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Dee Eisenhauer offers blessing for N-Sid-Sen

Dee Eisenhauer, pastor of Eagle Harbor UCC at Bainbridge Island, offered a 90th anniversary blessing for N-Sid-Sen on August 17, 2025.

I’ve been musing on the kaleidoscope of experiences that have taken place in this sacred place where people step away from their machines and routines to enjoy earthy beauties and one another. The kids nowadays call putting the virtual world on hold to go outside to the real world “touching grass.” I’ll call it “touching Grace.”

I want to lift up and give thanks for a few of the many opportunities we have had to touch Grace in this place of inspiration.

Dee Eisenhauer blesses camp N-Sid-Sen.

We remember and give thanks for little kids skipping millions of rocks into the lake, and for the little kid that re-emerges within the seasoned adult who skips the rock WOW 10 TIMES! God bless the rocks and the skippers and a pure form of play.

We remember and give thanks for a mouthful of perfect cookie after a satisfying meal in Forester; for the folks who baked with care; for the sharing that ensured everyone got a cookie before the teenagers were turned loose to clean the plate. 

God bless the sweetness of shared meals to nourish body and soul.

We remember and give thanks for the deer sightings in the meadow, especially those bathed in the hues of early morning and dusk light; for the way the deer look at you with an air of nonchalance that says hello visitor, you’re welcome for a visit but don’t forget I live here; however, we can share this meadow for this moment.   God bless the deer and all the other critters that make room for company here.

We remember and give thanks for the cool waters of the lake, the immersion that makes you yelp and then sigh with relief on hot, hot summer day; for the endless delight of children who are part mer-people who get to swim all afternoon; for the trivial and non-trivial conversations that unfold while bobbing on pool noodles and innertubes while your body is nearly weightless in liquid grace and the dragonflies use your floppy sun hat as a landing place. God bless Lake Coeur d’Alene.

We remember and give thanks for all the trees that stay while we come and go—for the perfume of pine trees on a hot day; for the rustling of the cottonwood leaves as the breeze stirs them to applaud; for the lovely old walnut that holds the lovely old swing that accommodates every body and affords moments of peace accompanied by the quiet squeak of the rope. God bless the trees that help us breathe in more ways than one.

We remember and give thanks for the human interactions that take place as we create and dismantle temporary communities here—for the shouts of laughter erupting as our belly-laugh muscles get a workout; for the thoughtful questions that give birth to new insights; for the tears shed as pain is shared with a compassionate listener; for the high-fives and warm hugs and hands held; all the moments that shape us in a place holding us in grace. God bless the meeting of humans in beloved community.

We remember and give thanks for the myriad moments of being awe-struck in this place—for  the moon rising, stunning us into silence; for the stars finally visible in blessed darkness; for songs that touch us so deeply we can’t finish singing them; for a rainbow colored sunset; for the way a campfire can remind you of Light Divine; for the quietness that allows the still small voice of God to be heard, finally. 

God bless all the ways God invites us to remember who and whose we are in this sacred place.

May this continue to be a place to touch grace for years and years to come.

 

Pacific Northwest Conference UCC News © copyright Fall 2025

 

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